NAT i ONS TAKE A TRIP AROUND THE GLOBE
Meet some of our Field Workers
COVID UPDATE
Fresh and powerful testimonies
FREE POSTERS
Cut-out posters on Page 2 and 20 Issue 02 2021
Nations Magazine
PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME I
n Paul’s metaphor of Christ’s many-membered body, he emphasised that: ‘All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it’.2 What struck me about this thought is that we collectively (not individually) constitute Christ’s body, and that all of us (not just some of us) have a part to play in its function. While it is one body made up of many parts, it doesn’t reach its full potential unless each part fulfils its purpose in harmony with the other parts.2 We need each other and we are called (and gifted) to serve each other. To be an active member of the body, we are not to be independent, but interdependent. This is not only true in a local church context, but in the relationship between Christian people and mission organisations like World Outreach. Partnering together, we can accomplish so much more. Motivated by the love of Jesus and compelled by the Commission of Jesus, World Outreach has a burning passion to engage with unreached people groups. We will do all we can to facilitate more and more mission workers onto the field to engage those who’ve never heard the gospel, but we need you to partner with us in whatever way you can. The point I want to make is that we can’t do it alone.
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In this edition of Nations, we’ll be focusing on people like you and me who are doing some extraordinary things both on the field and in support of the field workers (our missionaries). You don’t have to be someone special to do very special things, but simply be obedient to whatever the Lord puts in your heart to do, and faithfully use your God-given skills, gifts or resources for his service. As you read Nations, you’ll also discover our five-year goals under the banner ‘Vision 2025’. This is why I’m writing this call to action. Will you believe with us in faith to see these goals become a reality? Will you sign up to regularly pray for us? Will you financially partner with us? Or maybe the Lord is calling you to go and be part of the team engaging the unreached people groups. Will you partner with us in one of the greatest moments in modern day missions? Together, let’s make a difference in this world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT Ephesians 4:16
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Bruce H ills
International Director
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CATCH A GLIMPSE INTO THE LIFE OF A WORLD OUTREACH MISSIONARY Over the next few pages, we’ll be chatting to field workers in 4 nations - Ethiopia, Mozambique, Thailand and South Africa. Dive in deep and read their stories. 4
I hit the lowest point of my life. One night I cried myself to sleep and in a dream, I was given a picture of Africa...
A DORMANT DREAM AWOKEN
An interview with George and Mia - Missionaries in Ethiopia TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR FAMILY Hi, we are George and Mia Lee. We have 2 boys who are 5 and 2 years old. George is from New Zealand and was saved at University. Mia was brought up in Japan and Mozambique as a missionary kid (MK). We met in NZ where we were both working at the same hospital. George works in rehab and biomechanics and Mia is a doctor. We had both been to Ethiopia before meeting each other. We were brought together over our mutual love for Jesus and Ethiopia! OFTEN, WE HEAR OF PEOPLE BEING “CALLED” TO MISSIONS, WHICH CAN BE QUITE ABSTRACT. CAN YOU ARTICULATE 5
HOW GOD HAS CALLED YOU? George: My journey to Ethiopia began in my last year of University where I hit the lowest point in my life. One night I cried myself to sleep and in a dream I was given a picture of Africa. Later that year, I investigated mission organisations, and within 7 weeks, with barely enough to pay my rent, God provided the money I needed for a short term mission trip to Ethiopia. After my two month term there my heart wanted to return but I had no idea of the what or the when. Fast forward 10 years, Mia arrived in my life and our desires to do missions in Ethiopia had now crossed paths. I had to make a decision to stay in NZ and pastor, or marry the love of my life and make disciples amongst unreached
people groups in Africa. It was during an exploration trip to Ethiopia where God clearly spoke to me, and the dream that had laid dormant for the last 10 years was awoken. So for me there were some catalysts in figuring out my calling, which took some time to realise. Looking back during the 10 years between first going to Ethiopia and meeting Mia, God had prepared me for the field through pastoring, lecturing, bible college and running my own business. Mia: As I grew up as an MK I had an awareness of the nations and unreached people groups from a young age. When I was 11 our family moved from Japan to Mozambique to plant churches amongst an unreached people group. It was during the 3 years there that I saw clearly the power of the gospel to transform lives and communities, and I knew I wanted to do the same with my life. Since then my passion has always been to go where Christ is least known!
different ministries, and have learnt and grown a lot through that and made lifelong friendships. Involve your children in the process, share with them about where you are going and when, pray with them about the place you are going and the people you will work amongst. Learn all you can through courses like the Nations Course and by connecting with experienced missionaries and those who are currently on the field. Pray and fellowship regularly with like-minded people with a heart for missions. WHAT’S THE BIGGEST SPIRITUAL NEED IN ETHIOPIA? Orthodoxy and Islam are dominant in different regions of Ethiopia, and there is very strong religiosity. Pray for Jesus to encounter them in dreams and visions. There are misconceptions in the church particularly about Muslim people. Pray that Ethiopian Christians’ hearts will be transformed to be mobilised to reach them and not be deterred by fear.
WHAT‘S A MISCONCEPTION YOU HAD OF BECOMING A MISSIONARY? Feeling like we had to “perform” from day one. Finding your feet in a new culture, language, cultural differences; they are all part of learning to be a missionary. Taking a long term perspective in working with an unreached people group has helped us to shrug off the pressure of performing and numbers and focusing more on asking the Holy Spirit to do the work we can’t. Obedience and faithfulness doing the things we could do at the time has helped us and our ministry grow when we rely on God to work through us. WHAT HELPS YOU TO PERSEVERE IN THE HARD TIMES? People praying for us and checking in on us. Knowing God has called us here. It’s the call that always keeps us here. ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE PREPARING FOR MISSIONS? Serve God with all your heart wherever you are now, do not wait until you are “on the mission field”. We have both always been heavily involved with serving in our local churches in 6
We decided to let it go and trust God that he would provide... Somehow we have always received enough...
FOCUSING ON TODAY An interview with the Kelders, Missionaries in Thailand.
TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR FAMILY We are Jan-Peter (36), Natasja (34), Sven (11), Levi (9), and Anna (4). We are from the Netherlands and moved to Thailand in 2013. Jan-Peter has a background in media, marketing and communications, while Natasja has a background as social worker/counsellor. We enjoy being in nature, watching wildlife, travelling, meeting new people, and we feel called to share God’s love with people in need. OFTEN, WE HEAR OF PEOPLE BEING “CALLED” TO MISSIONS, WHICH CAN BE QUITE ABSTRACT. CAN YOU ARTICULATE HOW GOD HAS CALLED YOU? It was a gradual process. During a vacation in 2006, we made a brief visit to a project, run by a Dutch missionary. We were touched by the work that she was doing (reaching out to children in need), and a seed in our heart was planted. We revisited in 2008, and meanwhile had this plan in the back of our heads, to perhaps one day come and do volunteer work for a few months. We learned in 2012 that our friend would be leaving Thailand. We figured as our linking pin with the foundation was leaving, we wouldn’t be volunteering for them anymore. But God started speaking to us about taking over the foundation. We spent about a year praying, and talking to people, and received clear confirmation that we should go to Thailand.
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FOR MANY WHO DESIRE TO SERVE OVERSEAS, FUNDRAISING CAN SEEM DAUNTING. WHAT HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN OF RAISING SUPPORT? It’s a mix of different experiences. For our personal support, we felt stressed before we moved to the field, as it seemed impossible to ever raise enough support to survive on. But we decided to send out a newsletter, and then just let it go and trusted God that he would provide. Since then, we have never asked for money for ourselves. We do share about the work we do on social media, email and personally. Somehow we have always received enough, despite sometimes seeing holes in our budget plan. Whenever we needed something extra to cover flight tickets, for example, we would receive an extra gift. It’s something we try not to worry about and focus on too much. But that’s just our personal philosophy, we’re not saying everyone should have this approach.
WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST PARTS OF MISSIONS? For us the worst part has probably been seeing people come and go. We start new friendships and then people leave again. That hurts, everytime. We meet new people in our church, and feel like we can relate to each other. And then they leave again. Or we have volunteers from our home country (the Netherlands) coming over for a few months. It’s great to work together, we feel like we fight a battle against poverty together, and then they leave again and we stay behind alone. That’s probably been the greatest challenge for us. At one point, we became hesitant starting new friendships, as we knew we would have to say goodbye to them again. Meanwhile, this has also been the best part of missions: We have met so many people from such different backgrounds, which we would have never met if we had stayed in our home country.
WHAT HAS GOD BEEN TEACHING AND SHOWING YOU RECENTLY? Matthew 6:34 says “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
WHAT HELPED YOU TO PERSEVERE IN THE HARD TIMES? Being patient. There is a time for everything. Good things come, bad things come. Just wait, and the bad times will disappear. It’s ok to feel bad sometimes. Things will get better eventually.
We are learning to focus on today and not worry too much about what the future will look like. We believe this is something God has been teaching us recently. MISCONCEPTIONS YOU HAD TO OVERCOME? Maybe sometimes we feel as if people back home think we see people come to Christ all the time. This is not true at all. We do see fruit and have seen people come to faith, but not huge numbers. We simply share God‘s love and are happy if people start asking questions. We sometimes ask people in our home country how many colleagues, neighbours and friends they lead to the Lord, and their answer is usually “not many, it’s tough”. Well, if it is tough in your home country, it is probably even tougher in another country. 8
I did not know a lot about Mozambique... I even had to find a map and look where it was...
CALLED TO WHERE?! Myriam Wahr served in Mozambique for over 16 years. Whilst there, she worked at O Bom Samaritano (the Good Samaritan) providing nutrition to malnourished babies and sharing Jesus with their families. Originally from Germany, she is now back at home caring for her elderly parents. Myriam hopes to be back again in Mozambique soon.
OFTEN, WE HEAR OF PEOPLE BEING “CALLED” TO MISSIONS, WHICH CAN BE QUITE ABSTRACT. CAN YOU ARTICULATE HOW GOD HAS CALLED YOU? I grew up in a Christian family and from childhood I wanted to be a missionary. I always loved hearing stories from missionaries and helping the poor in Africa was deep in my heart. During my first years at school, I received bad marks. I enjoyed looking out the window more than learning. There was even one teacher who suggested it would be good for me to learn in a handicapped school, but praise the Lord that didn‘t happen. As people prayed for me, I gave my life to the Lord and my marks got better and better. As a teenager, a prophecy was spoken to me, which confirmed my heart‘s wish to become a missionary. At 16, I was baptised in the Methodist church.
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I trained as a paediatric nurse and then I did a Discipleship Training School in East Germany. This was a very special time. God lifted me up and words that confirmed that I would serve the Lord came up. I really learned how to hear the voice of God. I remember I was in a caravan praying… “Ok God… I know now that serving on the mission field is the way you have for me. However, which country?“ Mozambique came to my mind, but I did not know a lot about this country. I even had to find a map and look where it was. My heart was beating and I told my disciple school small group leader. Three days later I received a missions magazine, where on the front cover in big letters was “Mozambique“. My heart beat quicker...this was a confirmation for me! I was 21 years old and began a lot of short term missions to various countries, like Guyana, Mali and Kosovo. At 28 years old, my dream came true and I started my journey as a long-term missionary in Mozambique.
WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST PARTS OF MISSIONS? Best parts: People are saved, locals carry the vision of your ministries, sick people get healed and the malnourished get healthy. I also love to get to know other cultures and their ways of thinking.
TELL US ABOUT A MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE? Once I had to pay 3,000 Euros for my car. I was angry with God, it was so much money for a car! But three days later someone gave the exact amount without knowing it.
HOW CAN WE PRAY FOR YOU? Worst parts: Bad roads and cars, seeing people Pray for the ministry of O Bom Samaritano, suffering, missing family and friends, misunders- that more people are saved. tanding things from their culture and missing German food. Pray for patience for caring for my mum and dad. WHAT HELPED YOU TO PERSEVERE IN THE HARD TIMES? Pray for wisdom, when to go again to To know this calling on my life, love for the Mozambique. people group and the way that Jesus cares for me. What a privilege, to have all this experience!
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MIGRANT MINISTRY Theo and Mignonne are missionaries in South Africa,
serving amongst Muslims and focusing on the Cape Malay. They love the Lord, love Border Collies and love good coffee! Our calling to the Cape Malay started while we were still serving in Mozambique. I had a dream in which God asked us to start praying for the Cape Malay. We started praying for missionaries to be sent there and all their needs around that. We tried to find more info about this people group and were surprised to hear that they are an unreached people group within SA. When you start praying for people you start loving them. And by the time God showed us through his Word that we are the answer to our own prayers, we were ready to go! WHAT HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN OF RAISING SUPPORT? Before we moved to the field God put it on our hearts to give a certain amount of money to some missionary friends. We did not have the money to spare but gave out of obedience. After we delivered the money, on our way home, we received the exact same amount from the same missionaries which they gave to a friend of ours the day before, to give to us! He delayed in giving it to us the previous day. We just exchanged the same amount but were both blessed through being obedient (because they also did not have the money to spare). That laid the foundation for us ... God knows your exact needs, and obedience is more important than funds!
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Raising support was always friendship building for us. More than 20 years later most of our supporters are still close friends. For us raising support has a very specific sequence – trusting God, sharing our hearts, making friends and going in obedience.
“When you start praying for people you start loving them and by the time God showed us through his Word that we are the answer to our own prayers, we were ready to go!” God is FAITHFUL.
look like?
We have never lacked in the things that are really important.
It has also been a huge privilege and joy to raise our kids in a different culture.
MISCONCEPTIONS YOU HAD TO OVERCOME? “I am going to do wonderful things for God! How glad will the people be to receive us and our help!” The moment we crossed the border into Mozambique this misconception was dealt with. We were treated with hostility and the customs officials tried asking us for bribes at every corner. We must go to serve and not have any other expectations! The only thing worthwhile I can do for God, is doing what he has prepared for me already. Listen and obey, the rest is him working.
WHAT WAS/HAS BEEN THE MOST MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE? When you realise you are becoming part of the community. Loved and valued. That opens doors into the hearts of people. WHAT HELPED YOU TO PERSEVERE IN THE HARD TIMES? Knowing we were called by God. WHAT’S THE BIGGEST SPIRITUAL NEED IN SOUTH AFRICA ? A revelation of who Jesus Christ really is. That he is the anointed One, the Son of God.
Also that “GOING is a one-person job.” We need the people back home very, very much. We are part of the Body and we need their WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT PARTNERING love and moral support and their prayers. It is a WITH WORLD OUTREACH? team effort. We appreciate their way of leadership. The emphasis that is put on prayer and the fact that they WHAT IS MOST HELPFUL TO YOU WHILE trust the Holy Spirit in us to lead us in God‘s OVERSEAS? ways. That WO Leadership cares and knows what it means to be on the field. Their assistance in helping our supporters understand what our situation and needs are. To know that you are not alone ... that God is there ... to know that your supporters are also there in spirit. HOW HAS LIFE BEEN RICHER BECAUSE OF CROSS-CULTURAL SERVICE? Being in a different culture makes you evaluate your own culture and appreciate the new culture. It builds your faith as you are challenged to die more and more to self. You ask the question: What does a biblical culture
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COVID UPDATE
A big thank you from World Outreach
With the funds received from generous supporters like yourselves, World Outreach has distributed close to US$100,000 of relief to affected missionaries and the communities they are reaching. God is moving in powerful ways in opening doors for the gospel to be preached through your giving.
Mozambique
“With funding received, we continue to reach out to families, widows and orphans trying to survive a food shortage crisis caused by the COVID-19 situation.”
S.E Asia
“We have been able to pack and hand out 50 food parcels a week for 6 weeks. Each week God is doing new things. Resistant tribes are opening their hearts to our visits. An 80-year-old man was healed and able to sit and eat again after we prayed for him. This man and his family accepted the free gift of salvation as a result.”
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Meet some people helped by our food distribution.
A
Mr P is an auto driver.
Most of his earning has to be spent on his daughter, who has been ill and bedridden for more than a year. The lockdown has shut down all his means of earning.
Mr N is a church planter. He owns a
small shop, but has to shut down his shop due to the lockdown. He has no alternate source of income and a family of five to feed.
Mdm S is a widow and a
mother of two. Currently, she is unemployed due to the lockdown.
Miss T
is an orphan living with two sisters and 5 other orphans in the same house.
Mr B is an orphan and the
eldest of 7 boys. They had no food at all left in the house, were being harassed by the local police each time he tried to go out into the nearby village to try and look for work or aid to help feed his family. *For security purposes, most images used on these pages are not of the actual people in the stories.
All these families are very grateful for the help they 14 have received from WO.
PRAY
Jen G
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GIVE
GENEROUS AUSTRALIAN FARMERS The Waldocks own and operate an abbattoir in
Queensland Australia. They have been in business for their whole married life which has brought its ups and downs, but their desire has remained the same - that their business is not for themselves, but for the extension of God‘s kingdom. The Waldocks have been married for 23 years and have 3 children. They are lifegroup leaders at their local church and are faithful supporters of World Outreach.
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“Mission work doesn‘t just happen by the people being there - it comes at a cost physically and financially -so to be able to partner with those on the frontline is a humbled privilege.“ WHY DID YOU FIRST GIVE TO WORLD OUTREACH? We met Pastor Bruce Hills when he spoke at our local church in Dalby several years ago. We heard him share about his involvement with WO and saw his passion in raising leaders and pastors around the globe - this sparked some passion in our own lives. WHY DOES THIS CAUSE MATTER TO YOU? We‘ve been supporting WO for roughly 7 years now. The cause never changes but to always see the lost come and have the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus. WHAT ARE YOU MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT? We are passionate about seeing people come to know Jesus and are passionate about helping underprivileged people groups, to help break the cycle of poverty and addiction and also to help fight against the injustices in the world. WHAT INTERESTS YOU MOST ABOUT WORLD OUTREACH? WHY? WO is not limited to one project or to one particular area but is actively involved in impacting lives around the world with the end goal of reaching the lost for Jesus. WHAT DOES THE MISSION OF WORLD OUTREACH MEAN TO YOU? ‘World Outreach exists to evangelise and disciple unreached people groups, equipping them to reach and disciple their own
and other peoples.’ We love this concept of discipling, teaching and equipping people to reach out to the world around them wherever they are. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE WOULD MOST TRANSFORM THE WAY PEOPLE THINK OF/VIEW MISSIONS WORK? Until you‘ve been and seen the underprivileged, the poverty and brokenness of this world outside our church walls and in particular overseas, you do not truly comprehend the need of missionaries and missions work - they are a shining light in very difficult situations and hardships around the world. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO PASS ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS? Our life is not about us, but it‘s where God has placed us to use what he has given us. It is so important we use what God has placed in our hands. The story of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) shows us that it‘s not about how much we have, but how we use it and what we do with it! HOW DO YOU FEEL AS A FINANCIAL PARTNER WITH WORLD OUTREACH AND ITS WORK? We feel blessed that God has enabled us to be a financial partner with WO. We feel honoured and excited to be a part of what God is doing in the world.
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WORLD OUTREACH GLOBAL SUMMIT JULY
25th
-29th
2022
WE LIVE AT ONE OF THE PIVOTAL MOMENTS OF HISTORY. GOD IS MOVING IN THE WORLD ON AN UNPRECEDENTED SCALE.
THERE IS AN AWAKENING! DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THIS AWAKENING AND HELP SHAPE HISTORY? HERE’S ONE WAY TO CATCH THE HEARTBEAT OF WHAT GOD IS DOING IN THE NATIONS. We will have amazing speakers, and you‘ll hear inspiring stories from the field. There will be workshops for missionaries, business people, pastors, and intercessors. You‘ll also have some time to chill with amazing people and enjoy delicious food! Our theme is AWAKENING! Why? Because an awakening has dawned. It is an awakening among the people groups, nations, churches, intercessors, business community, and in our hearts and lives. We’re inviting you to be part of it. Come...you’ll never be the same again!
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HAS GOD PLACED A NATION OR PEOPLE GROUP ON YOUR HEART?
Or perhaps you have a desire to “GO” but you dont know where...
Here is a space to write a prayer for that nation, people group or desire. You can cut this page out out and put it somewhere safe...who knows, one day you may look back at this prayer as a marker of God’s direction and faithfulness in your journey!
“My part in it is ___”
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Whether you’re an aspiring, emerging or experienced leader, there’ll be something in this video resource library that will inspire, sharpen and develop your life and leadership. These videos are ideal for self-directed learning, group discussion, staff training or for a more formal leadership course.
It’s totally up to you.
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CHIEF EDITOR: Bruce Hills
THIS EDITION GO
PAGES 5-13
PRAY
PAGES 16-17
Catch a glimpse into the life of a World Outreach Missionary. Dive in deep and read interviews with field workers in 4 nations - Ethiopia, Mozambique, South Africa and Thailand.
Meet our new prayer coordinator and see how you can be involved!
GIVE
AND MORE...
PAGES 18-19
Read about the Waldocks - generous and faithful farmers from Queensland, Australia.
Including: Covid Response, Global Summit, School of Leadership and 2 Cut-Out Posters!
New Zealand: Gail McDougall (Office) PO Box 97230, Manukau 2241 T: (64 9) 263 5434 T: (64 9) 887 7150 M: (64 21) 330 874 E: nz@world-outreach.com Australia: Val Ciacia (Country Director) Gail McDougall (Office) PO Box 136 Flinders Lane Post Office Melbourne VIC 8009 T: (617) 5313 8591 T: (612) 8203 4530 M: +61 0456 772 107 F: (617) 3319 8928 E: admin.au@world-outreach.com
DESIGN: Zoe Anderson Angeline Smith ISSN 2624-1536 PUBLISHERS: PO Box 97230, Manukau 2241 New Zealand T: (64 9) 263 5434 T: (64 9) 887 7150 M: (64 21) 330 874 E: id.office@world-outreach.com PRINTERS: Thumbprints Utd Sdn Bhd Lot 24, Jalan RP3, Rawang Perdana Industrial Estate Rawand, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Country Offices International Office: PO Box 97230, Manukau 2241 New Zealand T: (64 9) 263 5434 T: (64 9) 887 7150 M: (64 21) 330 874 E: woi@world-outreach.com
PUBLICATION MANAGER: Andrew M
United States: Aaron Rudd (Country Director) 615 East Sego Lily Drive Sandy, UT 84070 T: (1 801) 572 0211 ext.11 M: (1 801) 599 3370 E: usa@world-outreach.com 501(c)3 Tax Exemption Available Canada: Ed Tetrault (Office) PO Box 183 Stn St. Norbert Winnipeg, Manitoba R3V 1L6 T: 1-204-793-1500 E: canada@world-outreach.com South Africa: Ivan Venter (Country Director) Postnet unit #459 Private Bag X1288 Potchefstroom 2520 T: (27 18) 290 5285 M: (27 79) 084 2141 E: southafrica@world-outreach.com
Singapore: Kevin Chan (Country Director) 2 Kallang Avenue #04-09 CT Hub Singapore 339407 T: (65) 6464 8698 E: singapore@world-outreach.com Malaysia: Philip Chieng (Board Chairman) PO Box 8541, Kelana Jaya 46792 Petaling Jaya Selangor Darul Ehsan T: (60 12) 2962082 E: malaysia@world-outreach.com United Kingdom: Jon Hitchen (Office) BM Box 5265 London, WC1N 3XX T: +44(0) 203 642 4873 E: uk@world-outreach.com Netherlands: Mark-Peter Amoureus (WO Ambassador) Oogstweg 12 8071 WS Nunspeet Netherlands T: (31 62) 467 1758 E: holland@world-outreach.com
International Director: Bruce Hills Field Ministries Director: Ben B Executive Manager: Andrew M International Board: Lorraine Dierck, Laura Kuimba, Wayne Freeman, Rachel B, Bruce Hills, Phil Somh, Choon Ooi, Martin S International Leadership Team: Bruce Hills, Ben B, Ivan Venter, Maria Ramos Sarah, Andrew M, Myriam W
